Threats of social media

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, UNITED STATES

03.13.2018

As social media grows in use, it also becomes more popular with scoundrels.

“Social media can hurt users by creating an environment where they feel they can share anything and they get comfortable with things,” said Airman 1st Class Cassidy Woody, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs broadcast journalist and PA briefing lead. “They (then begin to) share information that can compromise the mission or their family’s security.”

By sharing information such as redeployment countdowns or vacation updates with others, people may become a target for identity theft, scams or other criminal activities.

For example, a criminal may learn that a home is empty by someone posting vacation photos online, leading to theft.

“The minute you pull that trigger, the moment you post that (status), you can’t pull it back,” said Tech Sgt. Kenneth Mayfield, 20th FW wing operations security program manager. “That information is out there and you don’t know the type of damage it’s going to do.”

For military members and their families, sensitive information could become dangerous when sharing includes deployment statuses, force readiness and weapons capabilities.

However, individuals can protect themselves with proper precautions.

“People can protect themselves by being vigilant on what they share, informing their family members what they can and cannot share and remaining aware of who follows them on social media,” said Woody.

Users can limit the viewing of their information by changing their account’s security settings often and restricting access by only adding ‘followers’ they know.

Yet, even when taking precautions, individuals can still become targets.

“If someone believes they’re being targeted for a scam, they should collect all information, numbers and what the scammer said or did and contact the base legal office immediately,” said Woody.

By remaining vigilant of the hazards of social media, Team Shaw members can do their part to ensure the safety of missions, Airmen and families.